The Black Art Project, with a focus on the visual arts, is an evolving multi-faceted series of collective projects that together will present solid, verifiable documentation of the contributions of Black art and artists in the overall body of American art.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Private Reserves, Personal Treasures: Art Exhibit

Preston Sampson, Blue Willie, Acrylic on canvas

Leslie Pelzer, gallerist, has curated Private Reserves, Personal Treasures, featuring works owned by private collectors. The exhibit, featuring personal treasures from private art collectors, includes a "large variety and scope of art work ranging from rare vintage show posters, out-of-print reproductions to original paintings at allprice levels. As Pelzer states, "many of these works are from 1970's 80's, 90's and have not been seen for sale a long time.

The opening reception was Saturday and Sunday (July 10th and 11th) at 1100 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland in the street level suite, near Metro.

This exhibit will be closing on Sunday, July 25, 2010, and the scheduled gallery hours are Tuesday evening from 6:00PM - 9:00PM and Thursday evening from 6:00PM - 9:00PM this week. There is free parking in the evening at the Montgomery County garage directly behind the building. For further details or questions, including opening and closing hours or to make an appointment, call Leslie at 301-593-0598 or send her an email: Lespel4@msn.com.

This is a great opportunity to see works that have been in private homes and not available to the general public. It should prove to be a positive experience for collectors, artists, and any individuals with an interest in African American art and artists. Keep in mind that this exhibit is in temporary space, so put it on your list of things to do over the next few days.

I was intrigued by the whole concept of using temporary space to mount an exhibit, having just read a recent article in the New York Times (June 22, 2010), "Pop-Up Stores Become Popular for New York Landlords." The thesis focused on pop-up spaces that emerge on the city's streetscape for a defined business purpose for a very short time. Pop-ups provide a vehicle for building owners to fill vacant space and for sellers they offer "a place to gauge the reception of a brand or product without a long-term commitment." In my mind, I immediately thought that this pop-up concept would be an ingenious use of vacant space as a temporary gallery. It is a win-win situation for both the building owner and the temporary gallery, showcasing the property with a short-term art exhibition.

Join Leslie for an engaging evening in the midst of Private Reserves, Personal Treasures until June 22, 2010. Remember, this is a pop-up gallery (temporary space), so its existence is short-lived. Enjoy and share widely.